Effect of crop establishment methods and sowing time on yield and economics of dry direct seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.) in south-eastern Rajasthan

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif seasons of 2019-20 and 2020-21 at Agriculture Research Station, Kota to evaluate crop establishment methods at varying sowing time. Treatments comprising of two sowing times in main plots (Normal sowing, late sowing) and four crop establishment methods in sub-plots viz. broadcasting of seeds, manual line sowing of seeds with 20 cm row spacing, mechanized line sowing at 22.5 cm row spacing using seed drill and dibbling method at 20x10 cm spacing. Results reveal that crop planted on normal sowing date recorded significantly higher no. of panicles/m2, panicle weight and test weight over delayed sowing. Grain and straw yields were reduced by 16.42 and 11.76 per cent; respectively due to 30 days delayed sowing. Mechanical line sowing recorded maximum no. of panicles/m2, panicle weight and test weight closely followed by manual line sowing. Mechanized line sowing also recorded maximum grain yield (53.16 q/ha) which was significantly higher over other methods of establishment except manual line sowing. Mechanical line sowing using seed drill fetched highest net returns (Rs. 85872/ha) and B:C ratio (3.26), which were significantly higher over other methods of establishments. Thus, mechanical line sowing method using seed drill was found to be economically feasible crop establishment methods for dry DSR.